Drawer-type grandstand arrangement

ABSTRACT

A grandstand arrangement of the drawer-type comprises a plurality of seating sections supported at different levels, each section having a seating platform sloping downwardly in a forward direction with all but the rearwardmost platform being pivotally mounted at its forward end for lowering into a horizontal position. The height and width of each pivotally mounted section in the horizontal position of its seating platform is less than the corresponding height and width of the structural framework of an adjacent section so that each section may be telescoped one within the other into a compact storage position.

United States Patent 1191 Mackintosh 1 1 Mar. 11, 1975 DRAWER-TYPE-GRANDSTAND ARRANGEMENT [76] Inventor: Charles Mackintosh, 3838 Oakwood Ave., Los Angeles, Calif. 90004 22 Filed: Feb. 15, 1974 [2i] Appl. No.: 443,259

52 us. cl. .Q 52/9, 52/183 [51] Int. Cl E04h 3/12 [58] Field of Search 52/9, 10, I83, I84, 64

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,168,761 2/1965 Graf 52/9 3,429,081 2/1969 Robinson et al 52/9 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS l24,l22 8/1931 Germany 52/9 Primary Examiner l. Karl Bell Attorney, Agent, or FirmWatson, Cole, Grindle & Watson [57] ABSTRACT A grandstand arrangement of the drawer-type comprises a plurality of seating sections supported at different levels, each section having a seating platform sloping downwardly in a forward direction with all but the rearwardmost platform being pivotally mounted at its forward end for lowering into a horizontal position. The height and width of each pivotally mounted section in the horizontal position of its seating platform is less than the corresponding height and width of the structural framework of an adjacent section so that each section may be telescoped one within the other into a compact storage position.

6 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEI] NARI 1 i975 sum 1 or 3 1 DRAWER-TYPE GRANDSTAND ARRANGEMENT This invention relates generally to a telescoping grandstand arrangement, and more particularly to such an arrangement wherein the seating platforms of a plurality of seating sections may be pivotally lowered into a horizontal position for storage of the sections as each are telescopically received one within the other.

The telescoping grandstand arrangement of the present invention makes provision for a maximum seating capacity in auditoriums, arenas and the like, and is further adaptable for a reduced seating capacity depending upon the particular event taking place. For example, the seating capacity of a sports arena for an ice hockey event is generally less than the seating capacity permitted for a basketball event in the same arena because of the larger playing area needed for ice hockey. On the other hand, it often becomes desirable to make a substantial portion of the arena floor available for conventions, circuses and the like, thereby requiring a major dismantling or rearranging operation for the grandstand. The time and cost in adapting the auditorium or arena for different events requiring variable seating capacities become prohibitive for permanent grandstand structures. On the other hand, the foldable or collapsible grandstands heretofore available are either of the bleacher-type or require foldable seats. Such arrangements are, however, completely lacking in seating comfort and appearance.

It is therefore a principal object of this invention to provide a grandstand arrangement wherein seating sections, having fixed theater-type seats thereon, may be telescoped together into a compact area, or the seating capacity may be varied by telescoping one or more sections within one another, in a convenient, simple, economical and highly effective manner.

Another object of this invention is to provide such an arrangement wherein pivotally mounted seating platforms are provided for the sections, so as to permit the fixed and non-folding rows of seats mounted thereon to be lowered along with the platform into a horizontal position for storage.

A further object of the present invention is to provide such an arrangement wherein at least two of such seating sections are provided, each having a seating platform inclined forwardly and downwardly at a common angle, the rearward section being supported at an elevation by means of a structural framework having an open forward end. The seating platform of the forward section is capable of being lowered into a horizontal position, and the height and width of that seating platform and the seats carriedthereby are less than the corresponding height and width of the structural framework of the rearward section thereby permitting the forward section to be moved rearwardly into telescoping engagement with such framework.

A still further object of this invention is to provide such an arrangement wherein at least the forward section is provided with rollers on its platform to permit sliding movement for storage, the platform being raised and lowered by means of a screw jackor a hydraulic cylinder.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGS. 1A and 1B are side elevational views of the grandstand arrangement of the present invention shown in the fully extended conditionthereof;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the arrangement showing the seating sections telescoped within one another in a storage position;

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a portion of the forwardmost section and one of its raising and lowering means, taken along line 3--3 of FIG. IA;

FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view of the rearwardmost section of FIG. 1B;

FIG. 5 is a slightly enlarged detail view of the forward portion of the intermediate section; and

FIG. 6 is a top plan view showing only that top portion of the telescoped sections sufficient to indicate the relative widths thereof for effecting a telescoping arrangement.

Turning now to the drawings wherein like reference characters refer to like and corresponding parts throughout the several views, seating sections shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B are generally designated 10, I1 and 12. Intermediate section 11 includes a structural framework 13 comprised of uprights 14, 14a and bracing members 15 (not all of which being shown for the purpose of clarity). The opening between forward uprights 14 is completely unobstructed as will be described further hereinafter, and rollers 16 are mounted for free rotation at the lower end of each upright 14 and 14a.

Intermediate section 11 further includes a seating platform 17 pivotally mounted as at 18 to uprights 14 by means of bracket plates 19 (see FIG. 5). Platform 17 is comprised of structural end elements 21 having cross bracing (not shown) therebetween, with a platform section 22 secured as by welding at an angle to the forward ends of elements 21. The top surface of section 22 is covered in some suitable manner as by means of a metal sheet, and another platform section 23 is hingedly secured as at 20 to section 22 for upward movement with respect thereto. Section 23 is likewise covered by means of a metal sheet to thereby serve as a cross aisle for the occupants. Tier sections 24 and 25 extend between end elements 21, and seats 26 are fixedly secured in some suitable manner along the width of each tier section so as to form rows of seats at some predetermined spacing behind one another to permit easy access thereto by the grandstand occupants. Obviously, sections 24 and 25 serve as cross aisles of the grandstand. Also, risers 27 are mounted at the corners of tier sections 22, 24 and 24, 25 as well as at the rear of section 25 so as to provide steps therebetween. Handrails 28 are mounted along opposite ends of platform 17 in some suitable manner as by means of structural elements 29, 29a.

Forward seating section 10 is similar to section 11 except that it does not include a framework such as 13. Platform section 31 of this seating section includes end elements 32 having cross bracing (not shown) and transverse tier sections 24 and 25 mounted thereon as in section 11. Risers 27 are also provided as shown, as well as handrails 28 in the same manner as described for intermediate section 11. Moreover, platform section 22 is secured in place at the forward end of platform elements 32 and at an angle thereto as shown. Likewise, section 23 is hingedly secured thereto as at 20 in a manner similarly described for seating section 11. In addition, a transversely extending riser 27' is provided at the forward end of section 23 on the floor of the auditorium or arena thereby providing a short step for the seating occupants. Rollers 33 are provided at the forward ends ofelements 32, and rollers 34 are provided intermediate the ends of elements 32, as shown in FIG. 1A.

Both sections and 11 are provided with means for raising and lowering their respective platforms from a horizontal position as shown in FIG. 2 to an upwardly inclined position of FIG. 1A. Such means may be in the form of conventional screw jacks 35 or hydraulic cylinders 36 provided at opposite sides of each section. The jacks or cylinders may be used interchangeably and are each pivotally secured at their upper ends to the underside of tier section 25. For seating section 11, hydraulic cylinders 36 are pivotally secured at their lower ends to uprights l4aof structural framework 13, while screw jacks 35 are pivotally secured at-their respective lower ends to a pair of elongated rods 37. As more clearly shown in FIG. 3, rods 37 are together hingedly secured to end element 32 by means of a pin 38. Another screw jack and interconnected rods 37 are provided for seating section 10 at the side opposite that shown in FIG. 3. A transverse tie rod 39 interconnects the lower ends of both screw jacks. Accordingly, screw jacks 35 may be collapsed until rollers 34 are made to rest on the auditorium floor and, upon further collapse of the screw jacks, rods 37 at opposite ends of platform 31 and tie rod 39 are together raised slightly upwardly at their rearward ends away from the floor. It should be further noted that conventional seats 26 are also permanently affixed to the tier sections in a manner similar to that described for seating section 11.

Rear seating section 12 of the three-section grandstand arrangement disclosed herein is shown in FIG. 1B. Here, seating platform 41 is similar to platform 17 of section 11 except that platform 41 is fixedly secured to a framework structure 42. Such a structure includes uprights 43, 43a and cross bracings 44 at opposite ends of the structure between the uprights. Also, bracing elements 45, 46 and 47 are provided between uprights 43a as shown in FIG. 4, and rollers 48 are secured at the lower ends of each upright.

A pair of inner tracks 49 as well as a pair of outer tracks 51 are provided for guiding seating sections 10, 11 and 12 during movement thereof. An inner track 49 is typically shown in FIG. 4A as comprising an elongated strip 52 having an elongated plate 53 secured along the top surface thereof with six adjacent V- shaped guides 54 secured along the length of the plate. Each of these guides opens downwardly so as to provide a pair of intersecting upper guide surfaces along which the respective rollers 48, 16 and 34 of the seating sections are guided as these rollers move therealong. Each of these V-shaped rollers is complementary in cross-sectional shape to that of their respective guides 54. Outer tracks 51 are similar in all respects to the inner tracks except that only three of such guides 54 are provided on a plate 53 along which rollers 34, 16 and 48 are guided in a similar manner as that described with reference to FIG. 4A.

The height of seating section 10 including its handrails 28 in the lowered horizontal position of FIG. 2 thereof is slightly less than the height of framework 13 of seating section 11. This structural framework is completely unobstructed between uprights 14 and between bracing elementss at opposite ends of the structure. Also, the width of seating section 10 as between its platform end elements 32 is slightly less than the width between uprights 14 of framework 13 (see FIG. 6). In a similar manner, the height of seating section II including its handrails 28 in the lowered horizontal position of the platform of FIG. 2, is slightly less than the height of uprights 43 of framework structure 42. Again, this structural framework is completely open between uprights 43 and between cross bracing elements 44 at opposite ends of the framework. Moreover, the width of seating section 11 between bracings I5 is less than the width between uprights 43 and bracings 44 of seating section 12 (see FIG. 6).

In operation, the three telescoped seating sections may be moved from their stored condition of FIG. 2 to their fully expanded condition of FIG. 1, after the necessary track length of inner and outer tracks 49 and 51 are disposed along the auditorium or arena floor. Sections 10 and 11 are thereafter together moved outwardly of section 12 along tracks 49 and 51 to the position shown in FIG. 1A with section 10 shown in phantom outline. Section 10 is then moved along the tracks outwardly of section 11 into the position shown in solid outline in FIG. 1A, after which both screw jacks 35 and hydraulic cylinders 36 are actuated and extended into their positions shown therein. Upon actuation thereof, platforms 31 and 17 are respectively moved from their horizontal positions to their upwardly inclined positions of FIG. 1A. Of course, screw jacks can be used for both sections 10 and 11, or hydraulic cylinders 36 can be used for both sections. If the latter are used, support rods such as 55 pivotally connected at one end to end elements 21 may be lowered into a vertical position shown in FIG. 1A so as to relieve the pressure on the hydraulic cylinders. Also, forward cross bracing elements 56 may be secured between uprights 14 after section 10 is moved outwardly thereof. Likewise, cross bracing elements 57 may be secured between uprights 43 after sections 10 and 11 are moved outwardly thereof.

For stability, a stop block 58 may be disposed transversely of the tracks forwardly of rollers 33, as in the manner shown in FIG. 1A. Moreover, platform sections 23 may be locked onto the rearward side of its adjacent seating section after each of these platform sections are moved downwardly from their position shown in FIG. 2 to that of FIG. 1A.

When it is desired to move the seating sections into their telescoping condition of FIG. 2, each of the platform sections 23 is moved about their respective hinges into an upper position as shown in FIG. 2, and screw jacks 35 are collapsed until platform 31 is lowered onto the underlying tracks. After rollers 34 engage with their respective track guides, jacks 35 are collapsed slightly further so as to cause rods 37 and 39 to raise slightly upwardly of the tracks out of interference therewith. Bracings 56 and 57 are then returned to their vertical positions, and seating section 10 is manually moved rearwardly along the tracks until it lies fully within framework structure 13. Rods 55 are then disengaged and hydraulic cylinders 36 are collapsed until platform 17 is lowered into its horizontal position resting along the top portion of structure 13. The two sections are then simply moved rearwardly into a position lying wholly within structure 42, as seen in FIG. 2.

Of course, only two of the three seating sections may be useddue to specific space requirements for the arena or auditorium without departing from the scope of the invention. Moreover, a fewer or greater number of seating sections other than the number shown may be provided for a particular purpose so long as adjacent seating sections are made to be telescoped one within the other as in the manner aforedescribed.

The provision of fixed, non-folding seats on sections which may be easily stored one within the other provides all the advantages of uniquely storing or varying the seating capacity of the auditorium, without those disadvantages of otherwise uncomfortable or complex seating structures. The raising and lowering means for platforms 17 and 31 are located within the elevation of their respective inclined platforms thereby utilizing a space that would be otherwise wasted. Also, roller stops for any of the section rollers may be provided in any normal manner for added stability, and any conventional type of seats 26 may be provided so long as they are of the fixed, nonfolding type.

Obviously, many other modifications and variations are made possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scopeof the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

l. A grandstand arrangement, comprising at least two seating sections disposed one behind the other with at least the forward section mounted on rollers for horizontal movement, the rearward section being supported on a structural framework having an open forward end, said rearward section further including a seating platform mounted at an inclination to the horizontal on said framework at the upper portion thereof, seats carried by said seating platform, said forward section including a seating platform and seats carried thereby, means for raising and lowering said forward section seating platform about the forward end thereof between a horizontal position and an angle having the same inclination as said rearward section seating platform, the height and width of said forward section in the horizontal position of its seating platform being less than the corresponding height and width of said structural framework, whereby said forward section is capable of being telescoped within said framework through its open end when said forward section seating platform is lowered into its horizontal position and is moved rearwardly thereinto.

2. The grandstand arrangement according to claim 1 comprising at least three of said seating sections, the third of which including structural framework having an open forward end and a seating platform mounted on its framework at the upper portion thereof at an angle having the same inclination as said forward and rearward section seating platforms, seats carried by said third section seating platform, means for raising and lowering said rearward section seating platform about the forward end thereof between a horizontal position and its angle of inclination, said rearward section framework being mounted on rollers, the height and width of said rearward section in the horizontal position of its seating platform being less than the corresponding height and width of said third section framework when said rearward section seating platform is lowered into its horizontal position and is moved rearwardly thereinto.

3. The grandstand arrangement according to claim 2 wherein said raising and lowering means comprises screw jacks.

4. The grandstand arrangement according to claim 2 wherein said raising and lowering means comprises hy draulic jacks.

5. The grandstand arrangement according to claim 1 wherein guide tracks are provided for said rollers for guiding said forward section during its forward and rearward movement.

6. The grandstand arrangement according to claim 2 wherein guide tracks are provided for said rollers for guiding said forward and said rearward sections during their forward and rearward movements.

* =l= =l= l 

1. A grandstand arrangement, comprising at least two seating sections disposed one behind the other with at least the forward section mounted on rollers for horizontal movement, the rearward section being supported on a structural framework having an open forward end, said rearward section further including a seating platform mounted at an inclination to the horizontal on said framework at the upper portion thereof, seats carried by said seating platform, said forward section including a seating platform and seats carried thereby, means for raising and lowering said forward section seating platform about the forward end thereof between a horizontal position and an angle having the same inclination as said rearward section seating platform, the height and width of said forward section in the horizontal position of its seating platform being less than the corresponding height and width of said structural framework, whereby said forward section is capable of being telescoped within said framework through its open end when said forward section seating platform is lowered into its horizontal position and is moved rearwardly thereinto.
 1. A grandstand arrangement, comprising at least two seating sections disposed one behind the other with at least the forward section mounted on rollers for horizontal movement, the rearward section being supported on a structural framework having an open forward end, said rearward section further including a seating platform mounted at an inclination to the horizontal on said framework at the upper portion thereof, seats carried by said seating platform, said forward section including a seating platform and seats carried thereby, means for raising and lowering said forward section seating platform about the forward end thereof between a horizontal position and an angle having the same inclination as said rearward section seating platform, the height and width of said forward section in the horizontal position of its seating platform being less than the corresponding height and width of said structural framework, whereby said forward section is capable of being telescoped within said framework through its open end when said forward section seating platform is lowered into its horizontal position and is moved rearwardly thereinto.
 2. The grandstand arrangement according to claim 1 comprising at least three of said seating sections, the third of which including structural framework having an open forward end and a seating platform mounted on its framework at the upper portion thereof at an angle having the same inclination as said forward and rearward section seating platforms, seats carried by said third section seating platform, means for raising and lowering said rearward section seating platform about the forward end thereof between a horizontal position and its angle of inclination, said rearward section framework being mounted on rollers, the height and width of said rearward section in the horizontal position of its seating platform being less than the corresponding height and width of said third section framework when said rearward section seating platform is lowered into its horizontal position and is moved rearwardly thereinto.
 3. The grandstand arrangement according to claim 2 wherein said raising and lowering means comprises screw jacks.
 4. The grandstand arrangement according to claim 2 wherein said raising and lowering means comprises hydraulic jacks.
 5. The grandstand arrangement according to claim 1 wherein guide tracks are provided for said rollers for guiding said forward section during its forward and rearward movement. 